The Tinkerman Cometh To Villa!

Reports in today's Mirror suggest that ex-Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri will be heading to Aston Villa IF David O'Leary is sacked.

Ok, I'm not sure there is an 'IF' in the departure of David O'Leary, if I was him I'd be walking at the end of the season, but if he ends up with a lower points haul that our worst Premiership (45 under Graham Taylor) then surely that will be reason enough for Doug to wield his often unwelcome axe?

The only way I can see David O'Leary surviving is if a new group do finally take over Villa and they decide O'Leary is the future. They might have some explaining to do to convince the fans, but they 'might' be able to do it?!

Anyway, the report says that Ranieri is next in line. You have to ask, why? What would the original 'tinkerman' have to tinker with at Villa? Are we really to believe that Villa have already made the decision that they need a new manager? Are we then to believe that this board, who seem to be only capable of reactionary actions, not pro-active decisions have drawn up a short list? To stretch it further, are we then expected to believe that this short list has been leaked BEFORE the news of the current managers departure?

Thought not. Interesting though. Seems the press are beyond the 'will he leave?' and have moved to the 'who will replace him?' phase! Shame we aren't at the same stage with Ellis.

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I think your showing a rather blinkered attitude Murph. If Ranieri can't work with Doug he will become frustrated and his job will become increasingly hard. It must take a very strong personality to work with Doug. Has Ranieri got? I honestly have no idea.

I think your showing a rather blinkered attitude Murph. If Ranieri can't work with Doug he will become frustrated and his job will become increasingly hard. It must take a very strong personality to work with Doug. Has Ranieri got? I honestly have no idea.

Cart before the horse. It doesn't matter who replaces DOL. After the brief upturn in results we will settle back into the same old same old, regardless of the manager. A board with no ambition won't back the new man and despite Doug's empty promises of 20M the new man will get 4m to turn a pigs ear into a silk purse. May be Big Sam could do a job for us but it's hardly the solution, just papering over the cracks.

Cart before the horse. It doesn't matter who replaces DOL. After the brief upturn in results we will settle back into the same old same old, regardless of the manager. A board with no ambition won't back the new man and despite Doug's empty promises of 20M the new man will get 4m to turn a pigs ear into a silk purse. May be Big Sam could do a job for us but it's hardly the solution, just papering over the cracks.

Agree ooahpaulmcgrath, not much point without Ellis going, although I do think if Ellis is staying we need a completely different sort of manager to get us to the mid-table mediocrity that Doug loves. Have sent a quick interview to the Chelsea site editor for his opinion on Ranieri, although as I say in teh artilce, I don't believe a word of it!

Agree ooahpaulmcgrath, not much point without Ellis going, although I do think if Ellis is staying we need a completely different sort of manager to get us to the mid-table mediocrity that Doug loves. Have sent a quick interview to the Chelsea site editor for his opinion on Ranieri, although as I say in teh artilce, I don't believe a word of it!

This has surely to be paper talk and conjecture only. However did Ranieri work for Bates prior to Abramovich. His return to Valencia was nothing short of disasterous. I would be very surprised should he come to VP

This has surely to be paper talk and conjecture only. However did Ranieri work for Bates prior to Abramovich. His return to Valencia was nothing short of disasterous. I would be very surprised should he come to VP

O'Leary talks sometimes as if he's completely in the know, and that there is a lot going on behind the scenes relating to a possible summer takeover, and he's absolutely certain that he will still be the manager come next season. I'll quite happily settle for the removal of Ellis and co, then take things from there. If new owners decide to remain loyal to DOL then so be it. As for Ranieri. I sure as hell hope not.

O'Leary talks sometimes as if he's completely in the know, and that there is a lot going on behind the scenes relating to a possible summer takeover, and he's absolutely certain that he will still be the manager come next season. I'll quite happily settle for the removal of Ellis and co, then take things from there. If new owners decide to remain loyal to DOL then so be it. As for Ranieri. I sure as hell hope not.

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